Getting enough sleep is essential to one’s well-being, and not getting enough of it can greatly affect one’s day-to-day routines. According to the CDC, an estimated 50-70 million Americans have some sort of sleep disorder. Now, reasons for not getting enough sleep can be attributed to many things, such as stress, illness, or even not having the proper mattress for your body type!
However, with the creation of Helix Sleep, one will no longer have to worry about going through the hassle of finding a new mattress that will suit their needs. Created by co-founders Adam Tishman, Kristian von Rickenbach and Jerry Lin, Helix Sleep is the first direct-to-customer mattress brand that uses cutting-edge technology and analytics to create personalized, high quality mattresses for individuals and couples. In addition to having their website, they also have a brand new showroom located in NoHo at 14 East 4th St.
One of the co-founders, Adam, answered a few questions for Downtown regarding their start in the business, how the mattress selection process works, and what the Helix Sleep team enjoys most about having their showroom located in Downtown Manhattan.
I think your concept is quite unique…how did you get started with this concept of personalizing mattresses?
At a high level, we noticed the mattress industry had three main problems: (1) high prices, (2) confusing products, and (3) bad in-store buying experiences. The magic of direct-to-consumer e-commerce brands is that we can offer high quality at greatly reduced prices, as well as put great effort into creating an awesome customer experience. But this didn’t really solve the issue around product confusion. A lot of our competitors have attempted to solve this problem by getting rid of choice completely and offering one mattress construction for everyone. But the research shows that people actually have different needs and preferences when it comes to mattresses. A 250 lb, 6’4″ man who sleeps on his back and a 120 lb, 5’4″ women who sleeps on her side fundamentally need different products. We see the continued rise of personalized products and services every day, so why not personalize the place you spend a third of your life?
If someone were to go about purchasing a mattress, what are some of the things he/she should look for?
The process of purchasing a mattress can be daunting, but there are a few key factors to think through. The first is to make sure you choose a mattress that has the correct support characteristics based on your body type. Mattresses can actually be TOO supportive. The second is to think through your subjective feel preference – do you like a firmer or softer feel? Finally, an informed consumer should also consider a couple other aspects including: temperature, motion isolation, and point elasticity.
How does the process at Helix Sleep itself work (when people are looking for a new mattress)?
At Helix Sleep, we have customers fill in a quick 2-3 minute questionnaire with questions on your body type (ex. height/weight), sleeping preference (ex. back/side/stomach) and mattress preference (ex. firm/soft). Based on your answer to these questions, we optimize a mattress construction using oursleep technology. That mattress is then custom-made in our facility in the U.S. and shipped directly to your doorstep in seven to 10 days.
What were some challenges you have encountered while running your business?
We’ve pushed the envelope in terms of complexity on the manufacturing side and feel fortunate to work with a partner who can handle our business model.
How has the reception been so far?
The reception has been great! We’re driven by providing the best possible product to each consumer and we’re very happy with product feedback and sales. We’ve been in business for roughly three months and we’ve already shipped to 45 states!
What’s the best thing about your showroom being located in downtown Manhattan?
Feedback. We love customer feedback, and it’s always more valuable to hear that feedback live from customers in our showroom. Plus we’d like to give the city that never sleeps a well-deserved good night of rest.
Are there any future plans for expanding the business that you can share at this time?
We’re working on some interesting projects for business expansion, but nothing public as of yet. Stay tuned!
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to be an entrepreneur?
Love your customers. They’re your best source of feedback, your biggest advocates, and the lifeblood of your business.
-by Jackie Hart
